BY the time anyone noticed David Wotherspoon leaning against the door of the Tynecastle media room, he had been there for some time.

St Johnstone had just comfortably won, ascending to fifth place in the SPFL Premiership table, but their midfielder had shown little intention of making a big thing out of it.

Having moved home to Perth from Hibernian last summer, Wotherspoon would have perhaps been forgiven had he gambolled in and upset a few of the smiling pictures on the wall but even a sense of personal satisfaction would not be coaxed out from behind surreptitious commentary. "I only had one victory here with Hibs . . . and I'm not sure I played in that one," he said.

St Johnstone had been more certain of themselves earlier on Saturday afternoon, scoring twice while refusing to concede for a fourth time in five matches. That form - albeit blemished slightly by a 4-3 defeat by St Mirren - has allowed the Perth team to make their way into the top six, yet they would seem to be doing so on their tip-toes given how little attention they have been attracting. St Johnstone had been dismissed at the start of the campaign as a small band of merely competent footballers but have since shown a habit of popping up unexpectedly to make off with a spot in the third qualifying round of the Europa League and a Scottish League Cup semi-final place. It has been an impressive instruction in guerrilla football.

All that would seem to be missing is a beret on the head of Tommy Wright, although the St Johnstone manager has still looked the part without it - adorning his team with resilience and a reliable source of goals. Stevie May scored his ninth of the campaign at Tynecastle to become the subject of conversation afterwards and also speculation over his readiness to be called into the senior Scotland squad today, ahead of friendlies with the United States and Norway. The 21-year-old would show an endearing impertinence, strength and pace against Hearts but the suggestion he should be drafted by Gordon Strachan would seem to have outrun even him, since his striking displays remain unrefined compared to such as Steven Naismith, Jordan Rhodes and Leigh Griffiths.

Such sharp excitement would be blunted immediately by Wright and a more certain ambition for May will be to consolidate his position as the leading man in Perth, not least with Steven MacLean to this week visit a specialist following a knee injury. "Stevie reminds me of Leigh Griffiths - it's the way he hits the ball, just with sheer power," added Wotherspoon, who saw the Scotland internationalist up close during his final two seasons at Hibs. "Stevie's definitely got the right attitude too and a few of the boys go out early before training and he's always out there with them. He's got the dedication to be a really top player."

That is an established description for an aspiring young player but one which is increasingly unfamiliar to those at Tynecastle. The first-team squad is populated by nascent talent out of necessity and they have been denied a more traditional upbringing, with 18-year-old Sam Nicholson brought on at the weekend, not simply to gain experience, but charged with affecting a game which was getting away from his side.

Wotherspoon offered sympathy afterwards - "Hopefully they can pick themselves back up" - even if it now seems assured the Tynecastle side will be left to do so from the SPFL Championship. While a win in an Edinburgh derby and a shot in the last four of the League Cup will continue to be a keen distraction for supporters, the return to league duty at the weekend simply gave the club a better look at relegation. "It's difficult but we've got the team we've got," said Kevin McHattie, the Hearts full-back. "But the supporters have been great for us and have been that way for the three years since I came here. That means a lot to us."